Chapter 1 - Tom's Anniversary Gift
Tom walked past me carrying a small black remote.
Rachel's face went blank.
“Tom,” she said, too quickly. “Don't.”
He ignored her.
Behind the patio, a large television had been set up beneath the covered deck for the slideshow Rachel had been bragging about all week. Their wedding photos were frozen on the screen.
Tom pressed the remote.
The picture changed.
A screenshot appeared.
Rachel: Miss you already.
Michael: You saw me yesterday.
Rachel: Not the same when Sarah is around.
The backyard went silent.
My fingers went numb around the serving dish.
Michael took one step toward Tom.
“Where did you get that?”
Tom gave him a tired look.
“Wrong question.”
He clicked again.
Another screenshot.
Michael: We need to cool it.
Rachel: You said that last time.
Michael: Because she's starting to notice.
I stopped breathing.
My mother whispered, “Oh my God.”
Rachel spun toward me.
“Sarah, this looks worse than it is.”
I laughed once.
“That's your defense?”
“It was flirting. Stupid flirting.”
Tom clicked again.
This time it was a photo.
Michael's car parked outside a hotel thirty miles from our town.
Rachel's SUV beside it.
The date at the bottom was six weeks earlier.
Michael's face drained of color.
Tom looked at me.
“I'm sorry you had to find out like this.”
I could barely hear him.
“How long?”
Rachel shook her head.
“Nothing happened.”
Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out a hotel receipt.
“Then explain why Room 418 charged champagne for two.”
Michael suddenly snapped.
“Enough.”
Tom stepped closer.
“No. Actually, we're just getting started.”
Then he held up one final document.
At the top were the words PETITION FOR DIVORCE.
May you like
Rachel stared at it.
And Tom said, “Happy anniversary.”
